Western Sydney Airport on track to open its doors to first flights in 2026

The new airport serving the Greater Sydney area in New South Wales, Australia is on track to open its doors to flights for the for time in late 2026, according to the government ministers overseeing the project. With the recent completion of the roof structure of the terminal building, internal fit-out can begin which will accelerate the facility’s final preparations before opening.

From its opening, Western Sydney International (WSI) will be a full-service airport capable of catering for domestic and international passengers as well as freight services. The airport will open with a single runway and facilities to handle 10 million passengers. The airport will be developed in stages as demand grows. The airport is initially expected to handle around five million passengers a year, reaching 10 million passengers by around 2031. A second runway will be added when needed. By around 2063, the airport is expected to accommodate approximately 82 million passengers annually.

According to a new statement issued on behalf of Australia’s Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King, more than 80% of the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is now complete, with domestic, international and air cargo services expected to commence from the gateway from late 2026.

In the statement, the country’s Minister of Finance, Katy Gallagher, and Werriwa MP, Anne Stanley, said: “Completion of the roof represents important progress for the project as it weather-proofs the building, allowing for the acceleration of internal works like the feature ceiling, departure areas, lounges, and retail space. More than 100 workers, including many Western Sydney locals, helped build the roof over the past 18 months – part of a broader workforce of around 3,500 people bringing WSI to life each day.”

“WSI also continues to support domestic manufacturers, with the new roof structure bolstered by more than 40 kilometers of Australian-made steel purlins and more than 3,500 tonnes of steelwork, primarily fabricated between Adelaide, Whyalla, Tamworth, and Orange. More than 6,000 solar panels will be affixed to the roof to help power terminal operations and the broader airport.”

Western Sydney Airport“WSI is a transformational infrastructure project that will generate economic activity, provide employment opportunities for people in the Western Sydney region, and meet Sydney’s growing aviation needs. The countdown is well and truly on – it won’t be long until the people of Western Sydney will be flying out of their brand-new 24-hour international airport,” they added.

“I’m excited to witness the latest construction progress, especially the completion of the terminal roof, which is the culmination of about 18 months of hard work by more than 100 tradespeople, many of whom are Western Sydney locals. The project has also shown strong support for domestic manufacturers – with steel for the roof sourced here in Australia. The airport has also invested more than half a billion dollars with hundreds of Western Sydney businesses since construction began in 2017,” concluded the minister’s statement.

Western Sydney AirportAccording to the airport authority, conscious planning has ensured that the land around the airport has been protected from urban development for nearly 30 years. The distance from the end of the runway to a built-up suburban area will be over ten kilometers, whereas at the existing Sydney Airport (SYD), the nearest built-up area is less than one kilometer away. This says the authority will allow Western Sydney International to “operate without a curfew, ensuring 24/7 connectivity, more jobs, and increased economic benefits.”

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AirlinesbyGoda LabanauskaitėAugust 5, 2024

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